UPDATE: As of March 9, 2024, the free COVID-19 Test Program is suspended and no longer taking orders.

Every home in the United States is eligible to order another round of free at-home tests through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) at https://special.usps.com/testkits. You can learn more at www.covid.gov/tests.

• There is a limit of one order per residential address.
• Your order of four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests will be shipped free.
• If an order has not been placed for your address since the program reopened on September 25, 2023, you can place two orders that will be shipped free.

Individuals who are blind or have low vision can learn about ordering more accessible at-home COVID-19 tests here.

For those who cannot access the internet or need help placing an order, please call (800) 232-0233 or the TTY line at (888) 720-7489.

If you have COVID-19 tests at home, you can see the full list of extended expiration dates on the Federal food and Drug Administration’s website.

Smart911 allows individuals to provide critical details about themselves and family members so that in emergencies 911 call takers have the information they need to quickly assess and address special concerns or safety needs.

Smart911 is a free, private and secure nationwide service that automatically delivers your safety profile to local law enforcement, medical and fire responders and public safety agencies that have installed the Smart911 technology. To determine if Smart911 is available in your city or town, visit the SMART911 website, scroll to the bottom and click “Find Services in Your Area.”

Nathaniel’s Hope Buddy Break is a free respite opportunity for McHenry County parents of children who have a physical, cognitive, medical or other hidden disability, a chronic or life-threatening illness, or are medically fragile.

It is provided through First Church of Crystal Lake and Options & Advocacy for McHenry County. The program gives each child a trained “buddy” to be by their side for three hours of one-to-one attention and kid-centered activities.  The program is open to children with special needs ages 2 – 16 and their siblings ages 4 – 11.

To register or for more information, please visit the Buddy Break webpage or contact Susan Perkins at (815) 477-4720, ext. 255, or susan.perkins@opad.org.

The Illinois Department of Public Health Vax Verify portal (also known as the Illinois Resident Immunization portal) provides access to your official immunization records.

You must be 18 years old or older to create a Vax Verify account or have legal guardianship of a minor to add them to your account.

Vehicle modifications are an available service through the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Medically Fragile Technology Dependent Children (commonly called the MFTD waiver). This tip sheet from the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) includes information on the type of vehicle modifications that may be covered and the steps involved in the process.

Vehicle Modification Tip Sheet in English

Vehicle Modification Tip Sheet in Spanish

The Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Medically Fragile Technology Dependent Children (commonly called the MFTD waiver) can pay for certain home modifications. The modifications must be for the individual’s primary residence and necessary to meet their medical needs. Home modifications may include:

• Permanent structural changes
• Equipment that is installed or attached to the home
• Solutions that are not permanent

This tip sheet explains what type of home modifications may be covered and the process for moving forward. (English and Spanish)

Effective July 1, 2020, the Seizure Smart School Act requires all Illinois school personnel to be trained in seizure first aid. It also requires the development of a Seizure Action Plan for students with epilepsy on how to best care for students with the disorder. A student’s parents or guardians will share their healthcare provider’s instructions on managing the student’s epilepsy and include a copy of any prescriptions and how and when to administer those medicines.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago provides resources and frequently asked questions about the law and what it means for families and schools.

The Mighty provides a digital toolkit to help caregivers learn more about the ins and outs of caregiving and discover helpful resources to utilize along their caregiving journey.

The Mighty’s Digital Toolkit for Caregivers includes:

• A caregiving binder, complete with worksheets to help you better organize important information
• A respite care questionnaire to help you find the perfect respite worker for your specific needs
• A self-care mini-guide to help you destress and prioritize your mental health

Everything included in the toolkit is downloadable, printable and shareable.

Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has left many children and youth vulnerable to feeling stressed, anxious or depressed. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine website features information and tools for teaching skills that can help children and youth cope with some of the challenges associated with the pandemic such as:

• Changes in their routines
• Breaks in continuity of learning or health care
• Missed significant life events
• Lost security and safety

Individuals can explore the site’s tools focused on children or teens, learn more about the cognitive behavioral therapy practices that went into them, and find additional mental health and wellness resources. These resources are also available in Spanish.

Early CHOICES is an inclusion initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education. It promotes increasing high-quality inclusive early care and education for each and every child from birth to age 5. Its goal is to increase the number of children with disabilities receiving specialized services in regular early care and education settings.

Early CHOICES provides planning tools for families to help them think of inclusive options and prepare for the transition from Early Intervention into early childhood services.